AFRICOM's SOF exercise kicks off in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire

ACCRA, GHANA

03.01.2023

Courtesy Story

Special Operations Command Africa

Twenty-nine nations and approximately 1,300 personnel will participate in Flintlock 2023, the annual, combined military and law enforcement exercise that will take place in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire from March 1-15, 2023.

“Flintlock provides a critical training opportunity for special operation forces from the U.S., Africa, and international community,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Milton J. Sands III, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa Commander. “Together we work to exchange best practices
to address the security challenges in the Sahel and Costal West Africa. A safer and more secure Africa will result in a more prosperous global society and security environment.”

This year, participating African nations include Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia. Other international participants include Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Operations this year will focus on multinational staff headquarters operations based in Accra, Ghana. Headquarters operations will test and strengthen participants’ ability to collectively address regional security challenges through a comprehensive scenario involving command and control of simulated participants at various outstations. Concurrently, some Western and African partners will train together remotely with the African partner nation hosting.

U.S. Africa Command sponsored exercises bolster partnerships between African, U.S., and other international military and law enforcement organizations, increasing interoperability during crises and operations to increase security and stability in the region.

• Date Taken: 03.01.2023
• Date Posted: 03.01.2023 12:57
• Story ID: 439445
• Location: ACCRA, GH